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Remove Shadows from Objects? How could I open msh files?

Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2011 10:44 pm
by modmaster13
Hi is there any way to remove shadows from objects? :? I think it has something to do with opening msh files and editing them. But, what program would I use to do that?

Re: Remove Shadows from Objects? How could I open msh files?

Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 5:37 pm
by Jaspo
How I would do it:
1. open msh file in this program (drag the file into the blue space to open it):
http://sites.google.com/site/swbfmodding/swbf-tools
2. export as vrml
3. import the vrml (.wrl) file in Blender (import VRML97)
Blender link:
http://www.blender.org/download/get-blender/
3. click the texface button for all imported texture materials (and since it creates a new material for every place there is a texture listed in the msh file, this can tend to be quite a few materials to check the button for...annoying, but I don't know of a way to do it easier)
4. export as VRML97 from Blender (can overwrite the old one)
5. import this .wrl file into the swbfviewer (drag the file into the blue space to open it)
6. save as .msh--use this file.
notes:
-textures should remain with the files throughout this process (same file location as the 3D files)...so probably just keep/save everything in the same folder.
-if you do it this way you'll lose the lowrez version of the model (so it will disappear at a certain distance (determined by LOD settings and the ranges in the map's .SKY file), rather than changing to a lower quality model).
-similarly, any special anything present in the original file will be lost (so this won't work for anything animated, either)
-if the object ends up being tilted 90 degrees from this process, there is a button you can check or uncheck during the blender vrml export to correct it.
-blender info:
my tutorial video:
http://starwarsbattlefront.filefront.co ... deo;116011
gametoast topic:
http://www.gametoast.com/forums/viewtop ... 27&t=17586

Re: Remove Shadows from Objects? How could I open msh files?

Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 5:41 pm
by DarthD.U.C.K.
there may be a way to do it just by hexediting, but im not sure:
open the msh and search for "sv_", once you found it, rename it to something else like "tv_" or so. "sv" is the prefix for shadowvolumes that let the object cause a shadow and renaming it might make battlefront ignore it.
if the msh has a msh.option file, open it and look if it has "highresshadow" in it. if it has, the msh has no shadowvolume and because of the highresshadowcommando visualmunge creates a shadowvolume from the real model, so removing the line if its present removes the shadow ingame.

Re: Remove Shadows from Objects? How could I open msh files?

Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 6:01 pm
by modmaster13
DarthD.U.C.K. wrote:there may be a way to do it just by hexediting, but im not sure:
open the msh and search for "sv_", once you found it, rename it to something else like "tv_" or so. "sv" is the prefix for shadowvolumes that let the object cause a shadow and renaming it might make battlefront ignore it.
if the msh has a msh.option file, open it and look if it has "highresshadow" in it. if it has, the msh has no shadowvolume and because of the highresshadowcommando visualmunge creates a shadowvolume from the real model, so removing the line if its present removes the shadow ingame.
I found something that says "shadowvolume" but not "sv_". :cpu:
Should I delete "shadowvolume"?

Re: Remove Shadows from Objects? How could I open msh files?

Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 8:56 pm
by FragMe!
shadowvolume and sv are one in the same. You can't just delete the name you would have to remove the whole model chunk. You could try renaming it to something with the same amount of letters like hhadowvolume or something and if was hidden originally you shouldn't notice it in game.

Re: Remove Shadows from Objects? How could I open msh files?

Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 9:12 pm
by modmaster13
FragMe! wrote:shadowvolume and sv are one in the same. You can't just delete the name you would have to remove the whole model chunk. You could try renaming it to something with the same amount of letters like hhadowvolume or something and if was hidden originally you shouldn't notice it in game.
Better idea, I deleted shadowvolume and when I tried to open ZE, it crashed which was pretty odd. :?

But when I switched it back to the origional MSH files, it worked again. I'll try hhadowvolume. :wink:

Re: Remove Shadows from Objects? How could I open msh files?

Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 12:32 am
by Maveritchell
modmaster13 wrote:Better idea, I deleted shadowvolume and when I tried to open ZE, it crashed which was pretty odd. :?
That is not odd at all, it is exactly what you should expect. If you just delete a part of a .msh file without updating any length IDs parenting it (usually for chunks, just HEDR and MSH2) you will have an invalid .msh file.

Re: Remove Shadows from Objects? How could I open msh files?

Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 5:12 pm
by modmaster13
Maveritchell wrote:
modmaster13 wrote:Better idea, I deleted shadowvolume and when I tried to open ZE, it crashed which was pretty odd. :?
That is not odd at all, it is exactly what you should expect. If you just delete a part of a .msh file without updating any length IDs parenting it (usually for chunks, just HEDR and MSH2) you will have an invalid .msh file.
Hmm...is there any way I could update length ID's? :?

Re: Remove Shadows from Objects? How could I open msh files?

Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 5:23 pm
by Maveritchell
modmaster13 wrote:Hmm...is there any way I could update length ID's? :?
http://www.gametoast.com/forums/viewtop ... 27&t=11141

Re: Remove Shadows from Objects? How could I open msh files?

Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 5:27 pm
by modmaster13
Could this fix the removing shadows problem that effects ZE (not by adding a cloth)?

Re: Remove Shadows from Objects? How could I open msh files?

Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 5:29 pm
by Maveritchell
modmaster13 wrote:Could this fix the removing shadows problem that effects ZE (not by adding a cloth)?
Please read the topic instead of just skimming it. You will see that it answers your question.

Re: Remove Shadows from Objects? How could I open msh files?

Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 5:39 pm
by modmaster13
I'm confused because it talks about "adding" something :? , I want to "remove" something. Sorry if i'm bugging you. :(

Idk if it is about removing a code in the HE.

Re: Remove Shadows from Objects? How could I open msh files?

Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 5:46 pm
by Maveritchell
modmaster13 wrote:I'm confused because it talks about "adding" something :? , I want to "remove" something. Sorry if i'm bugging you.
modmaster13 wrote:
Maveritchell wrote:If you just delete a part of a .msh file without updating any length IDs parenting it (usually for chunks, just HEDR and MSH2) you will have an invalid .msh file.
Hmm...is there any way I could update length ID's? :?
Hidden/Spoiler:
Image
Make sure to read through any of the other hex-editing tutorials for further explanation.

Re: Remove Shadows from Objects? How could I open msh files?

Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 5:47 pm
by modmaster13
Just an idea about the ZE crash, what if I put a second MSH folder in the ***/world1 folder as a backup? :wink: